Monday, April 9, 2012

Productivity

Today, I:
*helped an eight-year old practice the piano for thirty minutes
*bathed two small children and got them dressed, in less than 20 minutes (miracle)!
*walked three miles while pushing a double stroller and participating in soul-refreshing adult conversation with my good friends
*drove to Vernal, shopped at Lowe's and Wal-Mart with those same small children, and remembered the early dismissal of school on Monday in time to make it home before the big girls
*made a quadruple batch of homemade laundry detergent and a double batch of homemade dishwasher detergent, inspired by Renae (I'll let you know how well they work)
*disassembled, moved, and reassembled one crib, one toddler bed, one dresser, six toy cubbies, one desk, and one bookcase, plus rearranged numerous tchotchkes and tossed countless pieces of garbage. We are trying a new experiment of having the clothes and toys in one room and all the girls sleeping in the other room in order to lessen bedroom mess and foster sisterly spirit. (I'll let you know how it works.)
#supermom

Then I:
*collapsed from exhaustion in front of Pinterest for an hour while I let ALL my children (including the baby) freely roam the dirt field behind the house
*grouched at those same kids when they came back in the house for not perfectly interpreting my wishes for how they should be helping me with dinner
*dinner being spaghetti with marinara and canned breadsticks (not a vegetable in sight)
*let the two little ones fall asleep while the spaghetti was boiling, thus ensuring an evening spat with "Late Nap Syndrome" (chief symptoms: sobbing uncontrollably and pushing anyone who comes near)
*copped out and watched the new Bible videos (they are absolutely wonderful) for family home evening, snapping at John (who had just walked in from a day of call) when the wireless internet wasn't instantly perfect
*obviously took the parable of the Good Samaritan to heart with my complete lack of sympathy for the couple of bumped heads that were injured on the way to bed
#suckymom

I'm sure one of these days I'll have a night where I can look back at the day's balance sheet and find MORE entries under the #supermom hashtag than under #suckymom. But until then, I'm just grateful for the days where it zeroes out. #neutralmom

7 comments:

Lucky for all of us, no one is keeping score. And I take comfort/hope in the fact that I have only great memories about my childhood, even though I'm sure my mom had days exactly like I've had where I find myself completely devoid of any patience. Tomatoes are a fruit, right? So there's that.

True, true!! Love your writing! Hey, I came on here to ask your creative/sewing help. I'm wanting to make a Hedwig owl costume for my almost 2 year old boy for Halloween this year. I remember you doing a bird theme last year. Did you have a particular pattern that worked well, or are you one of those creative persons who whips up stuff like that on a whim?! Tips and suggestions wanted!!(PS - we're stilled bummed you're not down here with us but glad you're enjoying your new locale)!- Kristin Black (AKA Curtis Black's wife)ckblackfamily@gmail.com

I just love reading your blog! It is so refreshing to know that we all have those days!!! I think you are an amazing mom! I think of you everytime I sew because I am still using the same dress pattern that you gave me in Toledo. Thanks again for taking the time to share your amazing talents:)

Love your blog, miss you tons, glad you're real. I'm a little too real sometimes.I was talking to Michelle today and we miss you (and we haven't seen each other in ages either). Can we try to get together, kids and husbands and all? My parents have a cabin in Oakley and we could do an overnighter there, which isn't quite half way, but would be so fun! Or if you are coming into Salt Lake sometime and can fit us in, that would be good too. E-mail us. We're thinking June or beginning of July. We're both expecting baby girls (that we both think are boys coincidentally) at the end of July/beginning of August.hhmurphy@gmail.commmccaul29@aol.com Ciao!